HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia, the collaborative specialty insurance venture between HDI Global and Hannover Re, has hired James Bowes to lead a new General Aviation team in the Asia Pacific markets.
Bowes has 20 years’ experience and joins HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia from QBE, where he served as International Aviation Manager since 20009.
As Head of Aviation, Bowes will oversee the creation of the new team, which will be based in Melbourne.
It is expected that the team will grow over time with an expanding portfolio, HDI Global Specialty explained.
“We are extremely pleased that we could get Jamie to head up our new aviation venture,” Mark Fleiser, Head of Branch for HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia.
“He has an excellent background in this market, and we look forward to leveraging his market knowledge and connections. We hope to launch our offering as soon as possible.”
HDI Global Specialty launched at the beginning of the year, with the aim of combining organic growth with acquisitions of specialty teams and portfolios of high-margin business.
“When looking at how we could expand and build on our successful General Aviation operations in Europe, Australia was quickly identified as an area where we as a company saw great potential,” said Mats Westerborn, Managing Director for HDI Global Specialty SE Scandinavian Branch; the main hub for Aviation in the group.
“We identified the need to have an active presence in local aviation markets and it was therefore important for us to establish a team on the ground in Australia,” he added.
Ralph Beutter, CEO of HDI Global Specialty SE, also commented: “By setting up a new team for General Aviation in Australia, HDI Global Specialty SE takes another step to maximise the opportunities that exist within specialty lines.
“Getting such a highly regarded market leader as Jamie Bowes on board gives me comfort that Melbourne will be another successful hub in our Aviation line of business.”
HDI Global Specialty SE currently operates from six of its own offices and throughout the HDI Global SE network in 150 countries, with aviation written from the offices in Stockholm, London and Cologne.
